Madame Chair, the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa. My fellow ministerial colleagues from across the Pacific region. SPREP and CROP officials present, ladies and gentlemen. Let me underpin my comments with what’s been said in New Zealand, that the transition to a low emissions economy needs to happen on the scale of the industrial revolution, but at the speed of the digital revolution.

The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio says the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards encourages service leadership to benefit our communities in Aotearoa, throughout the Pacific region and the world.

Papa Turu. To the māmās and pāpās of the Tokoroa Cook Islands community. To the Samoan orator who greeted me, the mana whenua present, and your worship the mayor. It is such a fantastic pleasure to bask in the shining glory of the sixteenth star. You are the most southern of all the Cook Island stars.

From today, Pacific young people living in the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Whanganui/Manawatu, will get backing to help access life-changing learning and earning opportunities that will lead to fulfilling and prosperous lives.

Your Excellencies, It now falls on me to provide some closing remarks and to wish you safe travels.

I want to begin by acknowledging we have all gathered here at the invitation of the Indonesian Government, and none of us wanted to miss out on such an auspicious occasion. Thank you to our hosts for your generosity and hospitality.

Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio will travel to New Caledonia tomorrow to represent New Zealand at the Pacific Community’s (SPC) biennial Conference on 21 June in Noumea, along with Ministers and representatives from other SPC member countries.

“The Wellbeing Budget has secured an unprecedented amount of new funding of over $113 million over four years to boost support for Pacific communities across Aotearoa New Zealand to achieve their vision of a confident, thriving, resilient and prosperous Pacific Aotearoa through Pacific-led solutions in education, health, languages & cultural, economic and community wellbeing,” says Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio.

Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours list is shining an illuminating spotlight on the strong contribution Pacific peoples are making to our diverse communities in New Zealand.

The Wellbeing Budget focuses on ways to give Māori and Pacific peoples more scope to lift their own wellbeing. When Māori and Pacific peoples set their own wellbeing goals and aspirations and when we as a Government use our ability to change the system and help Māori and Pacific peoples achieve those aspirations – equality can start to be a reality.

Noa’ia - and warm Pacific greetings to you all. Noa’ia e Mauri to one and all
I want to acknowledge the presence of our church leaders, our traditional leaders, our community leaders, young people, friends and families. I acknowledge those who have travelled from near and far, especially those who have come from overseas.

The Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says the appointment of Auckland barrister Faumui Penelope (Lope) Ginnen as a District Court Judge will be welcomed and celebrated by the Pacific Peoples of Aotearoa and the Pacific region.

May I greet and acknowledge the presence of so many of our elders and pioneers of the Fiji Girmitees community who are present. I am happy to recognise your Special Guest the Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyaanand.